By Park Jae-hyukThe Alexander von Humboldt Foundation recently appointed Tsche Kwang-jun of Kyung Hee University as its ambassador scientist, the highest honor of the world-famous German institute.Tsche, who is a renowned authority in international and contract law, will work as the only ambassador scientist of Korea for the next two years. The foundation's ambassador scientists are supposed to disseminate information about Germany as a research location at its universities and research institutions at home and abroad.Among more than 20,000 members of the foundation, slightly more than 40 are chosen as ambassador scientists. "The Humboldt Foundation supports global researchers so they can focus on their work. I will play the role of bridging the academic research of the two countries," he said. "Germany has emerged as a prominent center in Europe. I will encourage more people to continue their studies in the country during my two-year term."The foundation maintains a network of more than 28,000 people, whom it calls "Humboldtians," from all disciplines in over 140 countries. They include 50 Nobel laureates."The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is unique in that it not only provides individual sponsorship for outstanding researchers but also integrates them into a world-spanning network of excellence for their entire lifetimes," the foundation states on its website. "This Humboldt family connects the world's academic elite with Germany."Established in Germany in 1860 to promote global academic cooperation between scientists and scholars, the foundation is funded by various German government offices and international partners. According to Wikipedia, it grants more than 700 competitive research fellowships and awards every year, primarily going to academics from the natural sciences and the humanities. It invites scientists and scholars from all over the world to come to Germany to work on research projects they have chosen along with their host and collaborative partners. These fellowships and awards include large prizes such as Humboldt professorships and Sofia Kovalevskaya Awards. The foundation is named after the Prussian polymath and geographer, whose qualitative work on botanical geography served as the foundation for biogeography.